Tunnel construction.



C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED 00118 I915.

1,240,444. PatentedSep t. 18,1917.

3SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. G. HASTINGS. TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. I915.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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C. G. HASTINGS, TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICAT|0N FILED OCT. I8. 1915.

1,240,444. PatentedSept. 18, 1917.

. 7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

CORNELIUS e. nas'rmcs, or WEST nonoxnn, NEW JERSEY, nssreivon To HASTINGS TUNNEL SYSTEM COMP-ANY, A oonronn'rro v onnnw YORK.

TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

Application filed'October 18, 1915. Serial No. 56,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS G. HAST- lives, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of WVest Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Tunnel Constructions; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of ref crence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that type of tunnel construction adapted to be built up {by the use of a tunneling shield such as disclosed in my 'co-pending applications for patent for tunnel constructions, filed July 2nd, 1913, Serial No. 7 76,898, and tunneling shields, filed November 19th, 191 i, Serial No. 872,921.

This invention has for its object particularly the construction of the tunnel blocks whereby when the same are associated into a tunnel structure, a reinforcing means may be adapted thereto to reinforce the entire structure and enable the same to withstand interior bursting stresses.

it is also anobject of this invention to construct a block particularly adapted for use in tunnel constructions to afford a novel and improved type of tunnel structure adapted to receive reinforcing nieans'assd ciated therewith so as to insure positive retainment of the blocks comprising the structure in proper assembled relation during and after the same are placed in position, and. further acting to greatly increase the strength of the structure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a block adapted for use in tunnel construction so formed that when assembled with other similar blocks to form the tunnel structure means are provided to receive reinforcing mechanisms to increase the strength of the built-up structure and further insure positive retainment of the assembled blocks in proper arrangement, during the course of erection and after completion of the structure.

It is also an object of this invention to pro ide block use tunnel c nstrue tion with the block so formed that mechanisms may be used to interlock adjacent rows of blocks one with another and with the blocks properly arranged providing a means for adaptation of an exterior reinforcem'ent'for the tunnel structure to aidthe saine in resisting interior stresses. I It is furthermore an important object of this invention 'to provide an improved type of tunnel construction made possible by the use of a specially constructed tunnel block which facilitates assembly of the blocks to form'the structure, interlocking the various adjacent rows positively one to another in proper alinement, and "by their assembly "providing a means for attachment of reinforcing means applied on the exterior of the assembled blocks during the course of erection of the tunnel structure.

It is finally an object of this invention to provide a tunnel construction of built up blocks so formed as to permit the same to be readily interlocked one to another in a longitudinal direction through the structure and formed to receive an exterior 'binding and reinforcing means therearound to hold the same in position and greatly reinforce the entire tunnel structure.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter nrorefu lly described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of tunnel structure constructed according to the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

ig. 3 is a fragmentary exterior view of a portion of the outer walls of the tunnel with parts broken away and parts omitted. Fig. t is a sectional detail of one of the blocks showing the same broken away at different planes to illustrate the interior construction.

Fig. 5 is an interior plan View of the assembled reinforcing membersor frames on which a tunnel block is formed.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on liney6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a tunnel block and a fragment of the exterior reinforcing means shown broken away thereon and with interior interlocking means shown in section.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail exterior view of the wall of the structure similar to Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a detail section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end view of the parts shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section illustrating the connection between the transverse reinforcing means inserted through the tunnel blocks shown in Fig. 9.

As shown in the drawings:

The tunnel block. a number of which are utilized in a tunnel structure, is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 1, and consists of concrete or other suitable material having molded thereinto a reinforcing frame comprising curved bars 2 and 3, respectively, of Z-section, which are disposed on the outer corners or edges of the formed block and with U-shaped bars or stirrups 4t, secured thereto and bonded within the concrete. Also molded within said block is a reinforcement consisting of wire netting 5, which is substantially of the same shape as the transverse section of the block, and as clearly shown disposed upon the exterior of the stirrups 4, the corner portions of said stirrups, however, projecting through apertures in said wire mesh as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A channel shaped groove or recess is formed on the inner surface of each of said blocks and molded thereinto is a channel member 6, which, at

7 its central portion, is struck outwardly and enlarged to afford a T-shaped recess in the block for attachment therein of means to maintain the blocks on erecting forms during the process of construction of the tunnel. Transverse interior reinforcement members consisting of plates or bars, designated by the reference numeral 5*, shown in Fig. 5, are also provided, adapted to extend into the concrete to bond therein. A plurality of holes or apertures 7, are provided trans versely through each of the blocks 1, intermediate the respective reinforcing stirrups for a purpose hereinafter pointed out.

Each of said blocks 1, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4:, and 7, is segment shaped, and the radial ends are concavely recessed at the four corners of each block, as indicated by the reference numeral 8, so that when the blocks are assembled, radially disposed holes or apertures are provided in the walls of the structure, as shown in Fig. 3, which provide a means of introducing grouting therethrough to fill up the space between the outer surfaces of the tunnel structure and the walls of the bore, after which said holes or passages 8, are filled with concrete. Furthermore, the outer surface of each of the blocks at the ends thereof is recessed concavely, as denoted by the reference numeral 9, so that between each of the abutting ends of the blocks comprising a row or ring, a transverse recess is afforded for a purpose hereinafter pointed out.

Then the blocks 1, are built up in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9, that is, with the ends of the blocks of one-ring or row abutting one another and staggered with respect to the next adjacent ring or row, the respective holes or apertures 7, of all of said blocks are in register to afford continuous longitudinal holes through the walls of the tunnel structure. Inserted therein are interlocking means for locking the adjacent rows of blocks one to another against a shearing stress and further to facilitate assembly thereof, and for this purpose round rods 10, of a length equal substantially to the width of a block, are inserted therein extending from the middleof one block to the middle of the next adjacent, and surrounding each of said rods are sleeves 11, equal in length to substantially the width of each block, with their ends terminating at the side surfaces or faces of said blocks so as to break joints with respect to said rods. The interior rods 10, merely abut end to end one another within the sleeves 11, but a positive connection is afforded between said sleeves at the abutting faces of adjacent rows of blocks, and for this purpose the side walls of the blocks are cored out, and a sleeve or coupling 12, is threaded on the abutting ends of said sleeves.

Said respective Z-bars 2 and 3, which form the outer edges of each of the blocks 1, form the walls of circumferential grooves or recesses in the tunnel structure when the blocks are assembled in bui1t-up relation, and laid within the recesses so formed are circumferential bands or tie rods 13, two within each recess, one pair for each row or ring of blocks, and said bars may be tightened in position therearound in any suitable manner and by any means provided for the purpose. Each pair of said bands 13, on one ring or row of blocks 1, is con nected transversely of the ring or row of blocks bystrap's 14, laid within the transverse recesses formed by the cored out or concave portions 9, and abutting ends of the blocks of a row, and bent around said bands 13, to confine the same closely within the groove and against the respective Zbars 2 and 3, extending peripherally around the tunnel structure. After the blocks are laid in built-up relation to form the tunnel structure and the forms removed, an inner lining or facing, designated by the-reference numeral 15, may be molded on the inner walls of the structure, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9, and of course the groutinghereinbefore referred t0 introduced through the holes 8, to surround the exterior wall of the structure, fills in around the respective bars 13 and 14, on the exterior thereof.

The operation is thought to be obvious from the description. However, as the blocks are laid upon the forms provided for the purpose, but not shown, to form the tunnel structure which, in the present instance is shown as circular, the metal clad edges on the outer surfaces of said blocks afforded by the Z-bars 2 and 3, provide grooves or recesses extending peripherally around the tunnel structure to receive the circumferential reinforcing tie rods or hands 13, which of course are put in place as the respective rows of blocks are built up in assembled relation. The straps let, serve to confine the respective pairs of tie rods 13, within the grooves to the proper row or ring of blocks, there being two tie rods in each of said circumferential grooves, and an investment of grouting is blown through the holes 8, from the interior of the tunnel structure to fill in the space between the outer surface of the walls of the structure and the inner walls of the projected bore to entirely cover and invest the exterior of the tunnel structure and the tie rods 13, and cross straps 1a. The telescoping rods 10 and sleeves 11, extending through the transverse aperture 7, in the blocks which of course extend longitudinally through the built-up tunnel structure, afford a ready and convenient means for alining the blocks as they are placed in position in building the structure, and further act as an interlocking means to resist shearing stresses between the blocks. lhe rods 10 and sleeves 11, break joints, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and this is to permit the same to be telescoped one over the other in alternate relation as the respective layers or rings of blocks are built up, and the sleeves 12, permit said sleeves to be connected one to another positively and adjusted to the proper length.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tunnel structure of the class described comprising a plurality of blocks in built-up relation, each of said blocks recessed along its edges on its outer surface affording circumferential grooves and staggered longitudinally disposed recesses in the outer walls of the tunnel structure, the end walls of each of said blocks recessed to afford radially disposed holes in the builtup tunnel structure, tie rods disposed in said circumferential recesses, cross straps attached to said tie rods and laid within said longitudinal staggered recesses, and a filling of grouting adapted to be blown through said radial holes to invest the outer wall of the built-up structure and fill said radial apertures.

2. A tunnel comprising blocks laid one upon another in parallel rows and in staggered relation, each of said blocks having metallic Z-bars recessed into the outer edges thereof affording circumferential grooves between said respective rows of blocks, retaining rings secured around said tunnel and laid within said circumferential grooves, and cross straps secured upon the respective rings of each row of blocks and disposed in recesses formed at the ends of abutting blocks.

3. A tunnel construction of the class described comprising a plurality of blocks assembled with one another, each of said blocks having metallic 2 bars molded thereinto on the exterior thereof, said bars affording peripheral grooves in the tunnel construction, circumferential tie rods fitted into said grooves, and cross members se-' cured at a plurality of points around the exterior of the tunnel construction between adjacent tie rods.

4. In a tunnel construction of the class described a plurality of blocks laid one against another, means extending transversely through the blocks to interlock the same with one another, mechanism extend mg circumferentially around the exterior of the blocks to reinforce the same and retain the same in position, each of said blocks recessed at its ends in the outer surface, and cross members laid in said recesses and attached to said circumferential mechanism to retain the same in position.

5. In a tunnel construction of the class described a plurality of reinforced concrete blocks, interlocking means between the respective adjacent rows of blocks comprising telescoping rods and sleeves breaking joints with one another, a threaded connection between the ends of abutting sleeves, Z-bar members recessed into the outer surface of said blocks affording a plurality of peripheral exterior metallic grooves in the tunnel construction, reinforcing tie rods 7 laid within said grooves, and means extending transversely between said grooves and connecting said tie rods one to another.

In testimony 'whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tw subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. HARDINE.

(Jopies of this patent may be obtained to: five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

